hey all :help:,
I am embarking on converting my already established SA biotope aquarium into an SA biotope riparium. I just wanted some advice on what to use as substrate in the plant hangers (shower caddies). I was considering eco complete or seachem fluorite and also thought about just using mineralized top soil. what do you guys think?

Thanks in advance!

mattjm1121

07-26-2013 11:46 PM

Anyone?

tattooedfool83

07-26-2013 11:52 PM

I won a riparium planter and plants in an raok awhile back. The substrate in it is hydroton which is clay balls super heated to expand and then on top of that is a small gravel. The pal ya have doubled in size and the root come out the bottom for the nutrient rich water. I also popped an oscomote plus root tab in there a couple weeks ago

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AirstoND

07-27-2013 12:09 AM

eco-complete

mattjm1121

07-27-2013 02:40 AM

is the small gravel specific for plants? or is it just small pebbles? thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by tattooedfool83
(Post 3919041)

I won a riparium planter and plants in an raok awhile back. The substrate in it is hydroton which is clay balls super heated to expand and then on top of that is a small gravel. The pal ya have doubled in size and the root come out the bottom for the nutrient rich water. I also popped an oscomote plus root tab in there a couple weeks ago

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tattooedfool83

07-27-2013 02:56 AM

Check out hydrophyte, he is the riparium
Guy and can beat answer those questions. That's where my planter and gravel came from.

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Sajacobs

07-27-2013 03:08 AM

I planted my tank with hydrophyte's gravel and gro-tabs. Great color and my plants are taking off. Plus I couldn't beat the price. The gravel came completely clean - no need to rinse. Hands down I'm very happy with my substrate choice.

Do PM hydrophyte. He's very helpful.

OVT

07-27-2013 05:32 AM

I would use w/e you are using for the substrate in your tank +a root tab. Some of the substrate will be falling out of the planters and you probably do not want light color clay on your black.

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caliguy

10-02-2013 08:11 AM

we built an outdoor rip that leads to and from a pond that was like 62`. we did Hagen Fluval Stratum (i think?) on top of fluorite covered with landscaping fabric and more fluorite(mostly to hold it down plus fluorite is great for setting rocks and other such media). It has never had any fertilizer added and its been running for like 5 or 6 years now. Tons of plants growing in and around it!

Jess123

10-02-2013 09:34 AM

If you have any grow shops around you go there. I got a huge bag of the fired clay balls they use for hydroponics very cheap. It was 20$ for a bag this size http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/02/dujeje4y.jpg
I know this is mgopm and not the clay balls ;)